Title: ELCA Bishops Told of Enthusiastic Response to New Worship Book ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 19, 2006
ELCA Bishops Told of Enthusiastic Response to New Worship Book 06-154-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Evangelical Lutheran Worship" -- the title of the newly introduced worship book for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada -- has generated orders of 568,000 pew copies through Oct. 6, exceeding early sales forecasts, said the Rev. Michael Burk, ELCA director for worship.
The new worship book became available for individual purchase on Oct. 3.
In a report to the ELCA Conference of Bishops, Burk said the fourth printing for the pew volume has been ordered. "This is a sign of how quickly and enthusiastically is being received," Burk said.
The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the church, consisting of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. It met here October 5-10.
Augsburg Fortress, the ELCA's publishing ministry, Minneapolis, and publisher of Evangelical Lutheran Worship, focused on quality in printing the pew volume because it will be in use "for a generation," said Beth A. Lewis, president and chief executive officer, Augsburg Fortress. Because of the volume's high quality, orders will take time to fill, she explained.
The books are sewn together and are not merely glued, Lewis said. Each book has 250 more pages than the "Lutheran Book of Worship" -- in use since 1978 -- and a special bright white paper is being used that takes about eight weeks to import from Europe, she said. Because of these qualities, orders for the third printing are expected to be delivered to congregations beginning in mid-January 2007, Lewis told the conference.
Estimates were that in its first two years, up to 36 percent of the congregations would commit to purchasing the pew volume, Burk said. Already 25 percent of congregations have committed, he said.
Burk urged bishops to explore the new worship book and attend introductory events being held throughout the ELCA. A special event, "Worship Jubilee 2007," will be held here at Navy Pier downtown prior to the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Burk said. The event is being billed as "a churchwide event celebrating the renewal of worship in the ELCA."
An electronic version of Evangelical Lutheran Worship resources will soon be available, Burk said.
Burk thanked the conference for its advice and input into the worship project. "You helped us create a volume that is this church in worship. Thanks be to God, and thanks to all of you," he said.
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Information about Evangelical Lutheran Worship, ordering information and introductory events is at http://www.ELCA.org/worship/ on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog